Can Roma Stage Another Thrilling Comeback?

Champions League | Preview

02/05/18

Can Roma Stage Another Thrilling Comeback?

The 2017/18 UEFA Champions League has seen some great games and this semi-final second leg encounter between Roma and Liverpool has the makings of something special.

Roma have just one European title to their name, the 1960/61 Fairs Cup and are aiming to reach their first European final since the 1990/91 UEFA Cup final against Inter Milan. The last time Roma reached the Champions League final was in the days of the European Cup and their opponents were Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp takes his team to the Italian capital in an attempt to win their sixth Champions League title. The last time they reached the final was in 2006/07 and Liverpool lost the game to AC Milan.

Roma come into this match on the back of a moral boosting 4-1 win over Chievo Verona at the weekend. This was the perfect result for Roma ahead of this match, as a similar victory in this game would be enough to send them through.

However, the Giallorossi must overcome what happened to them in the first leg and defend better if they are to have any chance of winning the game.

The heavy 5-2 defeat in the first leg is Roma’s only defeat in their last six games in all competitions. At home, Roma have won five of their last six matches in all competitions, including the famous 3-0 win over Barcelona and 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk, both in the Champions League.

Roma are undefeated at home in the Champions League this season, drawing one and winning four of their games, keeping a clean sheet in each of them.

Liverpool make the trip to Rome having been held to a poor 0-0 draw at home with Stoke City in the Premier League. While Liverpool played with one eye on this match, the draw means the top four is still not guaranteed this season.

However, Liverpool travel in a very confident mood following their 5-2 win in the first leg of this tie at Anfield. Having opened a 5-0 lead, the home fans were a bit nervous towards the end of the match as Liverpool seemed to tire and Roma scored 2 goals and could have had a third.

Nonetheless, Liverpool are in the driving seat and trends show they have lost just one of their last seventeen games in all competitions which came at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

Liverpool are undefeated away from home in the Champions League this season, winning four and drawing three of their matches.

Team news and Roma should be close to full strength with the return of Kostas Manolas, Cengiz Under, Kevin Strootman and Alessandro Florenzi, who were rested on the weekend. Eusebio Di Francesco may need to change the high defensive line of last week.

Liverpool are without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Emre Can, Joel Matip and Adam Lallana who are all injured. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joseph Gomez, Sadio Mane and captain Jordan Henderson have knocks but are expected to play.

Roma have little choice but to attack in this game and should be able to score goals against Liverpool. The problems will come at the other end of the pitch and it would be a surprise if Liverpool failed to score, in a match which could end level and see Liverpool progress to the final.